Alia Bhatt’s film ‘Darlings’ sparks new debate on domestic violence

Alia Bhatt‘s new Bollywood film ‘Darlings‘ has sparked a new debate on domestic violence in India.

In the film, Alia Bhatt plays the lead role of Badru while Vijay Verma plays Hamza, Shefali Shah plays Badru’s mother Shamsu and Roshan Mathew plays Zulfi.

The story of the film revolves around Badru who hopes that her violent husband can be reformed if he stops drinking.

However, when his anger goes too far, Badru and his mother clumsily but boldly plan to take revenge.

‘Darlings’ was released on Netflix last Friday (August 5). Directed by Jasmeet K Rain, the film is written by Jasmeet K Rain and Parvaiz Shaikh and has been released on the streaming service at a time when India is going through a critical period regarding domestic violence.

In July, a photographer named Sania Khan was found dead in her flat. The police had declared the case a murder-suicide, meaning her husband killed her and took his own life.

Another Indian woman, Mandeep Kaur, was found dead in her apartment in the US on the same day that ‘Darlings’ was screened at New York’s Manhattan Theatre. Now this case is also being investigated as murder.

Both these incidents had already sparked a debate about domestic violence in South Asian communities, but with the release of ‘Darlings’, social media and the internet are now filled with divided opinions on the issue.

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As for critics, Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times called Darlings a thought-provoking story in highlighting domestic violence despite its flaws.

Kukreja wrote: ‘In many parts the story of the film makes you cringe when domestic violence is used as a gimmick for laughs, like a woman staying with her husband despite the abuse. is, a man who has no remorse or remorse for his actions and a silent bystander who is portrayed in a humorous way.’

Anuj Kumar of ‘Da Hindu’ gave a positive review of the film, writing: ‘Dismantling the crutches that support the patriarchy in our homes, Darlings is a unique social thriller that ultimately deals with domestic violence. Good public service conveys a message.’

Avinash Lohana, writer for ‘Pink Villa’ said: ‘There will be many opinions on the ways the filmmaker chose to present his point of view, but hopefully the film at least gives people will force to discuss this topic.’

But not everyone who has seen the film is happy with the story.

Many Twitter users are using the hashtag ‘Boycott Alia Bhatt’ because they believe the new film supports domestic violence against men.

Film producer Alia Bhatt told IndieWire that when people read stories like ‘Darlings’, words like ‘disturbing’, ‘distracting’, ‘unfortunate’ and ‘necessary’ come to mind. are

She added: ‘There are still millions of people in our country who are victims of domestic violence and that saddens me because it makes me feel that there is an attitude that is supposed to be in every marriage. is part of “Oh it happens to everyone.”

He said: ‘But then it’s a really vexing point, why is it allowed to happen? There are certain fears and stereotypes in society about people living alone, or people not being married or in a relationship or divorced. It shouldn’t happen, not anymore.’

According to a long-term research study by the Indian organization ‘BMC Women’s Health’ which analyzed the trends and lessons of domestic violence faced by women in India between 2001 and 2018, most cases of domestic violence are committed by ‘husbands or their relatives’. ‘Atrocities by relatives’, and such incidents have increased by 53 per cent in 18 years.

The study also revealed that in 2018, the rate of violence by husbands or their relatives was 28.3 per 100,000 women, which is 53% higher than in 2001.

Alia Bhatt had this to say: ‘It’s a lot of pressure. It is a self-created social structure. If you are in a happy relationship with someone then of course enjoy it, have fun, live a good life but if not then you would rather be alone than in such a troubled relationship.’

He added: ‘We need to continue this debate. Cinema is one of the best mediums to convey a point and reach people and connect with them emotionally and mentally.’

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